Where does “watchmanly” come from?

watchmanly (English) comes from English ly, from Vietnamese ly — Alternative spelling of li.

watchmanly (English): Befitting a watchman

Definitions

  1. Befitting a watchman

Ancestry of “watchmanly”, step by step

watchmanly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlyAbbreviation of light-year
2VietnameselyAlternative spelling of li

via English watchman

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwatchmanOne set to watch; a person who keeps guard,...
2Middle Englishwaccheman—
Every word from Vietnamese ly →Every word from English ly →